How to make hypertufa pots without peat moss?
Make Hypertufa Pots
- Instructions. Follow these nine steps to make your own hypertufa pots. ...
- Hypertufa Design Ideas. Now that you know how to make a hypertufa pot, get creative. ...
- Shape. Experiment with different container shapes, ranging from troughs and rectangles to bowls and pots. ...
- Texture. ...
- Placement. ...
How to make a hypertufa table?
Tools:
- Miter saw
- Jigsaw
- Drill/driver
- Utility knife
- Aviation snips
- Mortar tub
- Hoe
- Chip brush
- Hammer
- Pneumatic nailer
How to make hypertufa pots and faux stone planters?
Tools
- 1 Assemble Materials and Tools. Using this recipe, measure your ingredients to create the hypertufa mixture for your rustic planter.
- 2 Make Hypertufa Mixture. Place a drop cloth or brown builder’s paper underneath your workspace. ...
- 6 Cure the Containers. The next step of the hypertufa curing process takes three weeks. ...
- 7 Drill Drainage Holes. ...
How to make a hypertufa planter?
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How long does hypertufa last?
The durability of hypertufa containers depends on the ingredients you use. Those made with sand can last 20 years or more, but they are quite heavy. If you substitute with perlite, the container will be much lighter, but you will probably only get ten years of use out of it.
What is hypertufa good for?
Hypertufa is great for making stepping stones, garden ornaments, planting troughs, sculptures, and more. Hypertufa is made by mixing various amounts of Portland cement and sand with peat moss, perlite, and water. Since this stone-like material is porous, it also makes an excellent choice for use as planters.
What grows in hypertufa pots?
Planting Succulents in Hypertufa Pots Hypertufa pots are extremely versatile; many plants will grow well in them, including all types of succulents.
What is hypertufa How do you make it?
0:082:42How to Make Hypertufa Pots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's a mix of one part Portland cement one part peat moss one part perlite or vermiculite. And waterMoreIt's a mix of one part Portland cement one part peat moss one part perlite or vermiculite. And water. When you're mixing make sure you wear a mask and you definitely want to wear gloves mix.
Is hypertufa stronger than concrete?
Hypertufa is a substitute for Tufa rock, a spongy rock found in limestone country. Though not as strong and durable as a standard concrete, hypertufa can be used to create some interesting finishes on stepping stones. If the stones are intended solely for decoration, you can fill the entire mold with hypertufa.
How durable are hypertufa planters?
Hypertufa planters made with sand can easily stand up for 20 years, said McMahan. "The light-weight ones made with perlite aren't quite as durable but can last about 10 years if they are not abused. Plant roots can make their way into crevices and quicken the breakdown process."
What's the difference between hypertufa and cement?
They are lighter than cement pots in comparison. Hypertufa can be heavy, especially the very large ones, but compared to one made of cement, the weight is less. This helps when placing the garden planters around and among your flowers and shrubs, or even when you use it as a landscape planter.
How strong is hypertufa?
Hypertufa is also about 2/3 the weight of concrete without compromising any of the strength of concrete when allowed to cure properly. The finish or outside texture of your hypertufa project can be smooth like finished concrete or rough like stone and even porous looking like pumice/lava stone.
Is hypertufa good for plants?
Besides its lightweight nature, hypertufa is very porous making it ideal for plants needing excellent drainage. Its porous nature also makes it able to withstand harsh weather conditions, and able to last for many years with little maintenance.
Can you grow vegetables in hypertufa?
It uses four ingredients: Portland Cement, Coir (they used to use peat moss), Perlite and water. It's great for planting succulents, drought tolerant plants, and anything else that you would plant in containers. Yum.
Can you paint hypertufa pots?
Yes, You Can Paint Hypertufa!
What can I use for hypertufa molds?
Plastic planters or buckets can be used. I look in the thrift store or recycle center for plastic bowls; these come in all shapes and sizes, and are easy to use; line with plastic so you can get the pot out once it's done. Use old plastic bowls from the thrift store...
What are the ingredients needed for hypertufa pots?
Peat moss, sand, perlite, Portland cement and chicken wire are the simple ingredients needed for the construction of hypertufa pots.
What is needed to make pots?
The gear needed for actually making the pots is pretty basic and consists of heavy rubber gloves, respirator to avoid peat moss and cement dust , 4 mils thick plastic sheet, tub, pot, a container for mixing, screwdriver, wooden dowel and wire brush.
What is a hypertufa pot?
Hypertufa pots were developed specifically for alpine plants but they make excellent containers for annuals as well. Made from cement (and other ingredients), the finished product is naturally porous (allowing some slow drainage) and lends itself to all sorts of artistic ideas.
How is hypertufa made?
Hypertufa is made by combining various aggregates (sp hagnum moss, sand, perlite, vermiculite) with Portland cement. Planters made from hypertufa have a rough and rustic appearance. Concrete pots are smoother with a more uniform appearance. In other words, you can make both concrete and hypertufa with cement as the main ingredient.
Where does the word "tufa" come from?
The word originates from hyper + tufa and describes a homemade tufa substitute. Tufa is porous limestone formed from calcium carbonate. Years ago it was a popular material for making garden troughs and containers but is not practical for DIY gardeners.
Can you use metal in hypertufa?
Metal is generally not recommended because, if the cured hypertufa will not release, it can be nearly impossible to remove the metal. The easiest option is to use the ground as mold: dig a hole in the soil in the desired shape, line it with a large piece of plastic film, and pour your hypertufa in place.
Can you drop a hypertufa pot?
If you dropped a hypertufa pot from ten feet up onto a hard surface, it could break into large chunks, depending on the composition of the materials. Cement and concrete are porous and are not recommended for holding water. There are skim coat products available for lining pots like this to make them watertight.
What is hypertufa made of?
It is made from a mixture of peat moss, Portland cement, and either sand, vermiculite, or perlite. After mixing the ingredients together, they are molded into shape and allowed to dry.
How long does hypertufa last?
The durability of hypertufa containers depends on the ingredients you use. Those made with sand can last 20 years or more , but they are quite heavy. If you substitute with perlite, the container will be much lighter, but you will probably only get ten years of use out of it.
How to make a hypertufa mold?
Before you begin, assemble the supplies you will need. Here are the essentials necessary for use in most hypertufa projects: 1 Large container for mixing the hypertufa 2 Spade or trowel 3 Mold 4 Plastic sheeting for lining the mold 5 Dust mask 6 Rubber gloves 7 Tamping stick 8 Wire brush 9 Water container 10 Hypertufa ingredients
What supplies do you need to make hypertufa?
Here are the essentials necessary for use in most hypertufa projects: Large container for mixing the hypertufa. Spade or trowel. Mold.
How to Create Hypertufa Pots
You first have to blend a sufficient batch of the material so you have enough for the speficic project you have in mind. This involves picking the best recipe (or experimenting with your own variations), creating, finding or buying the molds for the pots you want to make and then moving on to actually making the pots.
The Basic Hypertufa Recipe
You will find much more info on our “Hypertufa Recipes” page but the most basic recipe involves mixing 1.5 parts of perlite, 1.5 parts of peat and 1 part of Portland cement.
Making Hypertufa Troughs and Planters
The process here is almost the same as for making pots. You will need different molds to suit your needs and you might have to use a slightly different recipe to have the material better fit the size and form of the trough or planter. Read more regarding Hypertufa planters here.
Where Can I Get Molds
There are all kinds of items that can be used as molds, everything from tupperware to halloween masks can be used. A lot of times you can find items around the house that can be used as molds to make some very interesting projects.
What Materials Will I Need
The materials needed include Portland Cement, Peat Moss, Perlite, and sometimes cement coloring if desired. These materials can easily be found at hardware stores, bought online, or sometimes even at a Wal-Mart.
What Kind Of Things Can I Make
What you would like to make is pretty much up to you. Some examples would be Hypertufa Stepping stones, planters, bird baths & feeders and even totem poles.
Where Can I Learn To Make My Own Hypertufa Garden Art
Claudia Brownlie has a great tutorial for learning the art of Hypertufa. She gives inspiration for making everything from troughs, pots and ponds to sculptures like fountains, spheres and statues.
What is hypertufa planter?
The material has an ancient, hand-hewn quality; a perfect home for plants that you might find nestled into crevices in a rock garden, such as alpines, succulents, mosses and even tiny evergreens. Hypertufa is a versatile and strong material ...
How long does it take for hypertufa to cure?
They require several days to cure before they can be planted. The basic ingredients for hypertufa are readily available at home improvement stores and garden centers. They include peat moss, perlite, and Portland cement.
What plants are in the center of the bowl of papyrus?
Clockwise from upper left: echeveria, jade plant (crassula), haworthia in center, peperomia and silver-leaf kalanchoe. This bowl of papyrus and water lily is surrounded by yellow-flowering corydalis and purple Persian shield in the upper-right corner. Add a few guppies for mosquito control.
What is a Hypertufa Pot?
Hypertufa allows you to be creative, childlike, and artistic, while making your own container. Even mistakes can look good. Instructions on how to make hypertufa containers can be found on the internet and in many garden magazines.
Making a Planting Mix for a Hypertufa Pot
Building a house requires a good foundation. Making a good container garden requires great soil. Whether you are growing conifers in hypertufa containers or annuals in plastic pots, success begins with creating a healthy environment for root growth.
Conifer Selection for a Hypertufa Pot
Unfortunately the conifers used in the container will eventually outgrow their space, and using slower growing plants will keep your planting undisturbed for a few years. Conifers are classified as mini (grows less than 1” per yr.), or dwarf (grows 1-6” per yr), which helps when selecting the right plant for your container.
Designing the Landscape of a Hypertufa Pot
A conifer container can have a design, one conifer in one container, or you can create a mini landscape. Many nurseries now carry mini and dwarf conifers in 4” containers, making it easy to plant multiple conifers and several alpine perennials in one container. Design is a matter of personal taste.
Hypertufa Pot Maintenance and Fertilization
Conifer containers require a sunny location and minimal care once established. Newly planted containers will need to be watered a little more frequently until the roots get established. Since the recommended soil mix has no nutrients, fertilizer is required. Care should be given not to overfertilize. More is not better no matter what you grow.
Conifer Winter Care for Hypertufa Pots
Many conifer containers can be kept outside all year. However, plant survival will increase if you provide some extra protection. Roots are exposed to colder temps in containers than they are if growing in the ground. As I mentioned above, select plants that are at least one zone lower than yours.
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How often should I leach hypertufa?
I advise leaching your hypertufa pots by: Hosing down 3-4 times a day for about 5 days, while intermittently misting with a weak dilution of vinegar and water and rinsing with a garden hose. Then they will be ready to plant.
Why do you leach cement in pots?
Due to the alkalinity of Portland cement, it is necessary to leach your new pot to make an environment acceptable for your plants . Most gardeners feel that the planter needs to be “neutralized” for your plants to grow their best.
Assemble Materials and Tools
Using this recipe, measure your ingredients to create the hypertufa mixture for your rustic planter. Don’t worry if you don’t get the recipe exactly right; cement is forgiving. Start by using small 8-quart bags of perlite and sphagnum peat moss. Then add your Portland cement.
Make Hypertufa Mixture
Place a drop cloth or brown builder’s paper underneath your workspace. Set out your plastic molds for your rustic planter. Using no-stick cooking spray, completely cover the inside of the trough mold and the outside of the plastic insert. Repeat this step if you’re making more than one.
Mix Moss and Perlite
Put on your gloves then measure and moisten your Sphagnum peat moss. Next, add in Perlite and mix by hand.
Create Hypertufa Mixture
Now, put on your safety glasses and a mask. In a well-ventilated area, add dry Portland cement to the moss and perlite mixture to create the hypertufa. Blend these dry ingredients by hand.
Fill Containers and Cover
Take handfuls of the hypertufa mixture and fill the containers halfway to the top. Pack down as you go. Now take the insert and push it down inside, making sure to leave about an inch of thickness on the bottom. Continue filling with extra hypertufa mixture to fill in the top.
Cure the Containers
The next step of the hypertufa curing process takes three weeks. Remove the rustic planter from the plastic bag and let it sit in the shade. It’s okay if it gets rained on. At this point, it’s important to soak the container with water once a week to remove residual lime from the cement so it will not harm plants.
Drill Drainage Holes
Carefully drill drainage holes in the bottom of the rustic planter. The size of the planter dictates the size of the drill bit. Just use an appropriate size so the planter gets ample drainage.
